Recovered Materials and Abatement

  • The Asbestos Program administers the Georgia Asbestos Removal and Encapsulation Rule by regulating activities that disturb asbestos. Georgia EPD also works with U.S. EPA Region 4 to administer the federal National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Asbestos and the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA).
  • The Lead-Based Paint Program administers the Georgia Lead-Based Paint Hazard Management Rules to minimize the spread of lead dust and debris by regulating activities that disturb lead-based paint in target housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978.
  • The Recovered Materials Unit (RMU) is responsible for issuing permits to facilities where the materials have been diverted or removed from the solid waste stream for reuse or recycling, including scrap tire processors, sorters, and balers; material recovery facilities (MRFs); and composting facilities. The unit also reviews and issues permits by rule for class 2 composting operations and beneficial reuse approvals. The RMU administers the Solid Waste Trust Fund, including the Recycling, Waste Reduction and Diversion Grant, and coordinates the abatement of scrap tires throughout the state via state-contracted cleanups and the Local Government Scrap Tire Abatement Reimbursement (STAR) program. 
  • The Tire Management Unit (TMU) is responsible for enforcing state regulations for scrap tire generators, tire carriers, and scrap tire sorters; conducting compliance inspections; and issuing scrap tire generator identification numbers, used tire dealer identification numbers, tire carrier permits, and tire sorter permits. In addition, the TMU reviews applications for retreaders and out of state points of final disposition for scrap tires.  It also responds to citizen complaints regarding scrap tires and takes enforcement action to ensure illegally dumped tires are removed. The TMU also administers Agricultural Waivers for scrap tire storage limits used for agricultural purposes.